Kiss Me Kris by P. Buckley Moss

Introduction

Kiss Me Kris by P. Buckley Moss is a 2001 limited, numbered lithograph featuring a playful Kris Kringle figure holding a sprig of mistletoe overhead. Dressed in a bright red suit trimmed with white, black mittens, and pointed black boots, he stands against a clean white background with one arm raised in an unmistakably festive invitation.

The minimal composition gives the humor immediate impact. There is no landscape or elaborate Christmas setting—just Kris Kringle, the mistletoe, and the title’s cheerful suggestion. Canada Goose Gallery’s approved inventory confirms Kiss Me Kris as Product ID 6806, a 2001 limited, numbered lithograph, currently priced at $50.00, with verified Kris Kringle and Christmas subject classifications.

Story Behind the Artwork

The title and image work together as a visual joke. Moss takes the familiar Christmas custom of kissing beneath mistletoe and places Kris Kringle directly into the tradition.

His raised arm draws attention upward to the small sprig, while the open white background ensures nothing competes with that gesture. The result is less a narrative scene than a Christmas character study—a single expressive figure built around one recognizable seasonal custom.

No documented artist statement has been supplied for this work, so the playful invitation, romance, and humor should be treated as interpretations supported by the title and image rather than attributed to Moss as stated intent.

Symbols & Meaning

The mistletoe is the central cultural symbol in the composition. Its long association with Christmas kissing gives the title Kiss Me Kris its meaning and turns the raised sprig into the visual punch line.

The red-and-white Kris Kringle costume establishes holiday identity immediately, while the broad smile and raised arm may suggest celebration, affection, humor, and festive sociability.

The work is strongest when allowed to remain lighthearted rather than burdened with deeper symbolism.

Artistic Details

Moss uses an extremely economical composition. The vivid red suit provides nearly all of the color, while white trim blends partly into the paper and gives the figure a soft, buoyant outline.

The raised arm creates the strongest vertical movement and pulls the eye from the figure’s face to the mistletoe overhead. Black mittens and boots punctuate the red-and-white palette and help define the exaggerated pose.

At 4-5/8 x 2-3/4 inches, the image is narrow and compact, but the uncluttered background makes the figure easy to read even at small scale.

Featured Master Collections

Primary Master Collection: Christmas Traditions

This assignment is directly supported by Canada Goose Gallery’s approved collection materials. Kiss Me Kris appears by name within the Christmas Traditions collection, alongside other Kris Kringle and holiday works.

No supporting Master Collection is necessary. Although the image has an affectionate theme, the dominant and verified identity is clearly Christmas.

Decorating Ideas

Kiss Me Kris works especially well in entryways, kitchens, family rooms, bedrooms, holiday gallery walls, or small seasonal displays. Its narrow vertical format can fill a space where a wider print would feel awkward.

The red, white, and black palette pairs easily with traditional Christmas décor, while its humorous subject makes it a natural companion to other Moss Kris Kringle images.

Gift Ideas

This print is a natural gift for P. Buckley Moss Christmas collectors, Kris Kringle enthusiasts, couples, newlyweds, or anyone who enjoys playful holiday traditions.

It can work especially well for Christmas, an anniversary during the holiday season, a newly married couple, or as a lighthearted hostess gift.

About the Edition

Artist: P. Buckley Moss
Title: Kiss Me Kris
Year: 2001
Medium: Lithograph
Edition: Limited, numbered edition
Gallery-supplied numbered edition: 2,000
Gallery-supplied Artist Proofs: 25
Image size: 4-5/8 x 2-3/4 inches
Paper size: 8-1/8 x 6-1/4 inches
Condition: New, mint condition
Certificate of Authenticity: Included, according to supplied gallery information
Product ID: 6806
Current approved CGG reference price: $50.00
Verified CGG subjects: Kris Kringle; Christmas

Canada Goose Gallery’s approved inventory independently verifies the 2001 date, limited/numbered lithograph format, Product ID, $50 current price, and Kris Kringle/Christmas classifications.

🎨 Fun Fact:

The Christmas custom of kissing beneath mistletoe is newer than many people assume. Smithsonian research notes that the first known written reference to kissing under mistletoe dates to an English poem from 1784. By the 19th century, the custom had become popular enough for Washington Irving to describe a rule in which one berry was plucked for each kiss, and the kissing privilege ended when the berries were gone.

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🖼️ Collector’s Insight:

What distinguishes Kiss Me Kris is how completely the title and composition depend on one small prop. Moss strips away nearly every background detail, allowing Kris Kringle’s raised arm and the sprig of mistletoe to carry the entire joke. The narrow 4-5/8 x 2-3/4-inch format reinforces that upward gesture, while the strong red-and-white palette makes the figure immediately legible. For collectors, the work has a clear place within Moss’s Kris Kringle imagery and a verified connection to Christmas Traditions, without needing unsupported claims about rarity or demand.

Why Buy from Canada Goose Gallery

Canada Goose Gallery specializes in P. Buckley Moss artwork and provides clear information about edition format, condition, subject, and related works. Kiss Me Kris is documented in approved gallery inventory as a 2001 limited, numbered lithograph and is offered new and in mint condition.

Continue Exploring

Continue with Canada Goose Gallery’s:

• Christmas Traditions Master Collection
• P. Buckley Moss Fine Art Prints
• Certificate of Authenticity FAQ
• The Collections Hub
• Kringle Bells
• Kringle Dance
• Kringle’s Air Noel
• Kringle’s Pal
• Kris Kringle

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• Christmas
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